Gabriel Masfurroll, former Barça manager, dies at 72 following a long illness

Barcelona fans are in mourning after learning of the death of Gabriel Masfurroll at 72. The one who was director of the board of directors led by Josep Lluís Núñez, occupied the most important position of the club between 2000 and 2002, as vice-president and spokesperson at the time of Joan Gaspart.

In 2010, he returned to the club, alongside Sandro Rosell, as second vice-president of the Barça foundation. His social commitment through sport took shape in the Laureus Spain Foundation, of which he was president.

Sport has been a constant throughout his life. In his youth, he stood out as elite swimmer at the Barcelona Swimming Club and joins the Spanish team.

Additionally, Masfurroll has played a leading role in promoting the private health system in Spain.

He promoted private hospital networks in southern Europe, with the creation in 1997 of USP Hospitales, a company of which he was founder, president and general director until 2010 and which developed in four countries: Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Angola.

Previously, it passed through the national hospitals concerned (Fundación Puigvert, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Hospital de Sant Pau and Clínica Quirón).

He also led strategic projects at the consultancy Gesgrup and held management positions in companies such as Sanitas, HCA or Tenet Healthcare.

Your business side

Beyond its involvement in the field of health and sport, Masfurroll has developed an intense and varied activity within the Catalan entrepreneurial and entrepreneurial ecosystem, as mentor and advisor to young entrepreneurs and, in some cases, as an investor.

He was part of the Círculo de Economía since 1989 and participated in various boards of directors.

In the academic field, he chaired the Social Council of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) for nine years.

Was co-founder of the Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation and, in 2006, he promoted Mi Fundación Álex in memory of his son, who was born with Down syndrome and died at the age of three. His professional career was recognized by Creu de Sant Jordi in 2008.